Dongs echo through dark homes lit by candles through endless, lifeless streets. Mayor Baldwin looks out his daughter's window, watching as men fill wheelbarrows with parts of the dead. Limbs and chunks and frozen blood. "God, please, let Daniella be safe."He prays as a tear rolls down his sunken face. The Nakhflay Camp lays motionless, no feast. No gatherings. No music. Schenade and Veryth stand outside to the call of the cities tears. They wished the rain would wash away the red remnants of a night never to be forgotten, but the blue sky watches cold. "My Dad, he's been gone far longer than he promised he would be." "My husband was told to keep an eye on him, he's safe. They have never found themselves in a situation they could not handle together." "How can you be sure they are safe?" "I'm not, but I must hold onto the belief that they are." Veryth says with tears. "They will return soon, safe and sound...Then I'll kill them myself." Schenade wipes her flowing face and c
Galloping through the forsaken darkness into the blue light, the quite of a clear sky brings no comfort to the splintering cold. Full Steel armour takes its toll upon its wearers, especially through the frost. Weapons, leather, steel, supplies; everything adds up when worn for days, even when mounted. Cautiously checking the perimeter for signs of life, Rohain Pulls up to the freezing stream, dismounting Phantom after a long ride. "Finally, clean water." Rohain says in a tone of despair. Loosening his joints, Rohain removes his utility belt and the saddle from his companion. "I know buddy, it's been a rough night. A long night." Phantom looks at his road partner, grateful for the weight lifted and eats the apple from Rohain's hand. "Don't go far, okay?"The metal face voices in sadness. Walking arms wide, the knight enters deeply into the ice clear lake, sharpening his senses. Thin ice adorns the banks, the water ripples beautifully as the sun cuts through it all. ~ How could sh
*** Twin brothers of young age run through the gentle snow holding sticks they had found, stopping to swing them around like swords before falling to the ground together laughing. A few years later, back to back they fight, protecting their home from bandits using wooden rods. Being only boys, they are overpowered and Ayhaan falls under the blow of a club. Rohain enters fury mode, destroying all in his path saving his brother with all his might. Rohain puts his right hand out and his brother takes it to stand back up. Side by side, the twins are led to the cellar by their mother and father, to be rewarded for defending the house while they were away. They smile as father gives Ayhaan a crossbow, placing his hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eye before giving Rohain a shiny brass and steel dagger, glimmering in the candle light like magic. Ayhaan looks down at his wooden crossbow, disappointed as his mother proudly smiles at him. Rohain looks at his brother, Ayhaan looks away.
Across the fogged dead grass through black twisted branches, the white of death sings her ominous tune. Blood falls from beneath the woollen cloak wandering alone. Against the cutting breeze, Nyla's hand clutches the golden handle of the black blade. Gasping for air, her body falls flat in exhaustion. Crawling forward she still advances north of the world, leaving an ashen trail of blood behind. Bruises, cuts, hunger, even sleep keeps no hold. Looking at the stars, the purple of her eyes shine a tear. Under an anchor of exhaustion she sinks. Hitting the ground, Nyla reaches against the abyss and collapses dead on the snow. - Deep within caves darkness, bear blood stains the ground, attracting noses of insects and wild beasts. After a howling day of sleep, the pack awakens with a hunger equal to the einherjar (Loki's champions). Olcan's dagger is used to take servings large enough for recovering warriors. Placing slabs of meat on large leaves, the three sit to feast. Agnaar looks
Faris is awoken by air splashed out of his lungs by blistering cold water, slapping the nerves like a thousand needles all piercing the skin at once. "Wakey wakey priddy boy."An unusual accent spits out. Fur boots step across grey stone flooring towards a second bucket, lifted and thrown into the opposite cell. The wooden bucket is dropped as the footsteps slowly tap across the darkroom. Dark walls of moss and stone fall into a floor of the same palate. From cells out of sight a humming stale stench of urine and excrement poison the frozen air. Rusted orange hides between jagged flakes of black painted iron bars and gates. Faris watches disheartened as the chuckling and footsteps fade upwards through a wooden creaking staircase into the howling wind. "My Lord."Faris gasps.Faris checks his pockets, realising his wedding gift has been taken but before he can react his eyes widen. In the cell opposite, wearing nothing but her soaked red sleeping dress sits Miya. Her wet face can b
Divided by a beam of light from the small opening, Faris watches Miya have blistering cold water thrown over her again from the opposite cell. "Please stop, why do you keep doing this?"Faris asks, crushing the flaked paint over rusted bars. Tears of anger roll down Faris's cheek. Standing in front arms wide."Whatchu gunn do bout it?"Challenges the scrawny bag of bones. Faris reaches through the bars but his hand falls short. "Come closer!" The guy laughs and goes back up the stairs. Miya is lying on the floor, crying in the puddle, arms wrapped around herself. Faris's brows curve upwards as the fire in his heart has nobody to burn but himself. Miya looks through the bars and softly asks "Please,..tell me something about your wife,..something to distract me from the cold,.. it hurts so much."Barely able to string the sentence together as her body chatters vigorously. "What can I say except that I love her? She is the mother of our child, my friend and the one I'll be with
The 4th Blood Scroll Keeper was no man but a force of nature; as tall as wrestlers, a warrior build and versed in lightning manipulation● Unlike the other mages, Keeper was a strong believer in fusing magic with steel● Mages never feared warriors but mages were never seen as warriors, only cheaters and cowards who hid behind spells● King Vladamir the blooded, commanded a tournament between mages to commemorate his new throne in honour of his priestess Shay● This duel of fates would encompass the mace of Avalanche and for the first time, the arts could be used to prove battle prowess like knights and grant its wielders glory● The mighty King set three rules; •All magic had to be visible for the crowds to see● •No magic was to be used until blood had been drawn● •The competitors would not be allowed to take the fight more than eight stables length away from the mace in any direction● The final duel would be against the king's champion for a glorious climax● The winner would be aw
Another wave of freezing water crashes against shivering Miya as she screams in pain. Faris stands up reaching out the cage against a laughing bandit. His red eyes encircled by darkness and exhaustion still have enough fight in him to spout violent imprecations, but that fight has been worn down over many nights and merciless cold. Thoughts of revenge for the cruel torture, worry over the whereabouts of Axil, worry of Schenade and what she must be feeling, afraid for Veryth and her unborn child, missing Tamara, feeling trapped and angry. "Oh God, make them pay!" - Rohain throws another log on the glowing fire. "Yesterday, you never told me what happened when you climbed back up the stairs."Daniella says as she finishes setting the beds. "I'm tired, we covered a lot of ground today." "Please, it's not fair to end a story half way through." "It's not a story!It's my life. Everyday I can hear it, I see it when I close my eyes. I wasn't born this way."Rohain says clenching his